System and Method for Displaying Taxi Guidance Information on an Airport Chart

The present application claims the benefit of prior filed U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/707,374, filed October 15, 2024, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

The present disclosure relates to displaying taxi guidance information and, more particularly, to a system and method for displaying taxi guidance information on an airport chart.

When taxi clearance information is supplied to an aircraft from, for example, air traffic control, the pilot can enter the clearance information into an airport moving map system. The airport moving map system may then generate and render the taxi path, corresponding to the clearance information, onto the airport moving map that corresponds to the airport. This can provide improved situational awareness to the pilot during taxiing operations. However, this also can present certain drawbacks.

For example, at times, the airport moving map data may not accurately reflect what is shown on published airport charts. In particular, published airport charts typically include more information regarding operations within the airport environment than what is provided by airport moving maps. This can, in some instances, lead to mismatches in what is shown on the airport moving map and what is shown in the corresponding airport chart. This, in turn, can lead to an inaccurate and unwanted taxi path being rendered onto the airport moving map. Thus, pilots are required to compare the airport moving map and the corresponding airport chart to ensure the airport moving map is accurate. This can create extra workload, since these two systems are separately implemented.

Hence, there is a need for a system and method of integrating the airport moving map and airport chart systems so that a pilot can quickly determine if the taxi path that is rendered on the airport moving map can be used for taxi operations, based on the data and information that is reflected in the corresponding airport chart. The present disclosure addresses at least this need.

This summary is provided to describe select concepts in a simplified form that are further described in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

In one embodiment, a system for displaying taxi guidance information on an airport chart includes a display device, an airport moving map (AMM) data source, an airport chart data source, and a processing system. The display device is configured, in response to image rendering display commands, to render one or more images. The AMM data source is configured to supply AMM data that is indicative of geometries of various airport features. The airport chart data source is configured to supply chart data indicative of airport charts. The processing system is in operable communication with the AMM data source, the airport chart data source, and the display device. The processing system is adapted to receive taxi guidance data representative of taxi guidance information for a specific airport, and is configured, at least in response to an input command, to: (i) retrieve AMM data for the specific airport from the AMM data source and chart data for the specific airport from the airport chart data source, and (ii) command the display device to render an image representative of a published airport chart for the specific airport overlaid onto an airport moving map for the specific airport and with a taxi path that corresponds to the taxi guidance information overlaid onto the airport chart for the specific airport.

In another embodiment, taxi guidance information system includes a processing system that is adapted to receive taxi guidance data representative of taxi guidance information for a specific airport. The processing system is configured, at least in response to an input command, to: (i) retrieve airport moving map (AMM) data for the specific airport from an AMM data source and chart data for the specific airport from an airport chart data source, and (ii) command a display device to render an image representative of a published airport chart for the specific airport overlaid onto an airport moving map for the specific airport and with a taxi path that corresponds to the taxi guidance information overlaid onto the airport chart for the specific airport.

In yet another embodiment, a method for displaying taxi guidance information includes receiving, in a processing system, taxi guidance data representative of taxi guidance information for a specific airport. Airport moving map (AMM) data for the specific airport is retrieved, via the processing system, from an AMM data source, and chart data for the specific airport is retrieved, via the processing system, from an airport chart data source. The processing system commands a display device to render an image representative of a published airport chart for the specific airport overlaid onto an airport moving map for the specific airport and with a taxi path that corresponds to the taxi guidance information overlaid onto the airport chart for the specific airport.

The system integrates the airport moving map and airport chart systems so that a pilot can quickly determine if the taxi path that is rendered on the airport moving map can be implemented, based on the data that is reflected in the corresponding airport chart. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the system will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the preceding background.

The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the invention or the application and uses of the invention. As used herein, the word “exemplary” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Thus, any embodiment described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. All of the embodiments described herein are exemplary embodiments provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the invention and not to limit the scope of the invention which is defined by the claims. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary, or the following detailed description.

1 FIG. 2 FIG. 100 102 104 106 108 110 102 200 Referring to, a functional block diagram of one embodiment of a system for displaying taxi guidance information is depicted. The depicted system, includes an airport moving map (AMM) database, an airport chart database, a display device, a user interface, and a processing system. The AMM database, as is generally known, stores AMM data indicative of the geometry of various airport features such as runways, taxiways, and buildings, and may, in some instances, include various functional information. The AMM data, as is also generally known and will be briefly described, can be processed to render an image of a selected airport. In some embodiment, aircraft data can also be processed to also display at least ownship aircraft position and movement at the selected airport. One example of a rendered image of an airport moving mapis depicted in.

104 300 3 FIG. 3 FIG. The airport chart database, as is also generally known, stores chart data indicative airport charts that are published by various regulatory authorities. The chart data can be processed to render an image of the published airport chart associated with a selected airport. One example of a rendered image of a published airport chartis depicted in. It should be noted that the airport chart depicted incorresponds to the same airport that is rendered using the AMM data.

106 107 106 106 The display devicemay include any number and type of image generating devices on which one or more avionic displaysmay be produced. In various embodiments, the display devicemay be affixed to a static structure of an aircraft cockpit as, for example, a Head Down Display (HDD) or Head Up Display (HUD) unit. Alternatively, the display devicemay be implemented using a movable display device (e.g., a pilot-worn display device) or a portable display device, such as an Electronic Flight Bag (EFB), a laptop, or a tablet computer carried into the aircraft cockpit by a pilot.

107 106 100 110 100 107 106 107 100 107 At least one avionic displayis generated on the display deviceduring operation of the systemand, as will be described below, in response to image rendering display commands supplied from the processing system. The term “avionic display” as used herein is synonymous with the terms “aircraft-related display” and “cockpit display” and encompasses displays generated in textual, graphical, cartographical, and other formats. The systemcan generate various types of lateral and vertical avionic displayson which symbology, text annunciations, and other graphics pertaining to flight planning are presented for a pilot to view. The display devicemay be configured to continuously render at least one avionic displaygenerated and controlled by the systemcan include alphanumerical input displays of the type commonly presented on the screens of multi-function control and display units (MCDUs), as well as Control Display Units (CDUs) generally. Specifically, certain embodiments of the avionic displayincludes one or more two-dimensional (2D) avionic displays, such as a horizontal (i.e., lateral) navigation display or vertical navigation display; and/or on one or more three dimensional (3D) avionic displays, such as a Primary Flight Display (PFD) or an exocentric 3D avionic display.

108 110 110 108 108 106 110 The user interfaceis configured to receive input from a user, such as a pilot, and supply input data to the processing system. The processing systemis configured, in response to the input data, to implement various functions, some of which are described further below. It will be appreciated that the user interfacemay be variously implemented. For example, it may be implemented as a keyboard, a mouse, a trackball, or a touch screen display, just to name a few. When it is implemented as a touch screen display, it may be functionally implemented as an integration of the user interfaceand the display device. In such instances, the processing systemmay command and control the touch screen display to generate a variety of graphical user interface (GUI) objects or elements, for example, buttons, sliders, and the like, which are used to prompt a user to provide user input, and to activate respective functions and provide user feedback, responsive to received user input at the GUI element.

110 110 110 110 Before proceeding further, it is noted that the processing systempreferably includes at least one processor, a communication bus, and a computer readable storage device or media. The processor performs the computation and control functions of the processing system. The processor can be any custom made or commercially available processor, a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), an auxiliary processor among several processors associated with the processing system, a semiconductor-based microprocessor (in the form of a microchip or chip set), any combination thereof, or generally any device for executing instructions. The computer readable storage device or media may include volatile and nonvolatile storage in read-only memory (ROM), random-access memory (RAM), and keep-alive memory (KAM), for example. KAM is a persistent or non-volatile memory that may be used to store various operating variables while the processor is powered down. The computer-readable storage device or media may be implemented using any of a number of known memory devices such as PROMs (programmable read-only memory), EPROMs (electrically PROM), EEPROMs (electrically erasable PROM), flash memory, or any other electric, magnetic, optical, or combination memory devices capable of storing data, some of which represent executable instructions, used by the processing system. The bus serves to transmit programs, data, status and other information or signals between the various components of the aircraft. The bus can be any suitable physical or logical means of connecting computer systems and components. This includes, but is not limited to, direct hard-wired connections, fiber optics, infrared, and wireless bus technologies.

110 110 110 110 112 1 FIG. The instructions may include one or more separate programs, each of which comprises an ordered listing of executable instructions for implementing logical functions. Although only one processing systemis depicted in, other embodiments may include any number of processing systemthat communicate over any suitable communication medium or a combination of communication mediums and that cooperate to process various, perform logic, calculations, methods, and/or algorithms, and generate data. In various embodiments, the processing systemincludes or cooperates with at least one firmware and software program (generally, computer-readable instructions that embody an algorithm) for carrying-out the various process tasks, calculations, and control/display functions described herein. During operation, the processing systemmay be programmed with and execute at least one firmware or software program, for example, a programthat embodies one or more algorithms, to thereby perform the various process steps, tasks, calculations, and control/display functions described herein.

110 102 104 106 108 110 108 102 104 110 107 108 102 104 110 108 100 114 1 FIG. With the above in mind, it is seen that the processing systemis in operable communication with the AMM database, the airport chart database, display device, and the user interface. The processing systemis configured, at least in response to input data supplied from the user interface, to retrieve AMM data from the AMM databaseand chart data from the airport chart database. The processing systemis additionally configured to command the display device to selectively render, on the avionic display, images representative of an airport moving map and/or a published airport chart. More specifically, when an aircraft is supplied with airport taxi guidance information for a specific airport from, for example, air traffic control, the aircraft pilot, via the user interface(for example), may request, for the specific airport, AMM data from the AMM databaseand chart data from the airport chart database. The processing systemmay also, in response to user input data supplied from the user interface, generate a taxi path that corresponds to the received airport taxi guidance information. In some embodiments, however, the taxi path that corresponds to the received airport taxi guidance information may be remotely generated and transmitted to the aircraft. In such embodiments, and asdepicts, the systemmay additionally include a suitable receiverthat is configured to receive a generated taxi path that corresponds to the received airport taxi guidance information.

4 FIG. 5 FIG. 6 FIG. 110 108 106 107 402 404 402 110 108 106 107 502 108 402 404 502 404 502 404 402 502 108 110 108 106 404 502 Regardless of where the taxi path is generated, and as seen in, the processing systemmay additionally be configured, either automatically or in response to user input data supplied to the user interface, to command the display deviceto render an image, on the avionic display, of the airport moving mapwith the taxi pathoverlaid onto the airport moving map. In addition, and as depicted in, the processing systemmay additionally be configured, either automatically or in response to user input data supplied to the user interface, to command the display deviceto render an image, on the avionic display, of the corresponding airport chartoverlaid (with selectable transparency via the user interface) onto the airport moving mapand with the taxi pathoverlaid onto the airport chart. In this manner, the pilot can quickly and readily determine if the taxi pathcan be implemented, based on the data that is reflected in the corresponding airport chart. If the pilot determines that there is sufficient disparity between taxi pathon the airport moving mapand on the corresponding airport chart, the pilot can select to disable, via the user interface, the airport moving map and correspondingly generated taxi path from being displayed. In such an instance, the processing system, in response to the disable command from the user interface, will also command the display deviceto render the taxi pathoverlaid only onto the corresponding airport chart, as shown inbut in a much subdued form to allow pilot to glance at the clearance information. When the pilot determines that the clearance display matches the airport chart information, the pilot can choose to proceed with the taxi operation using the clearance display within the airport chart displays.

100 700 700 700 100 700 700 700 7 FIG. 1 6 FIGS.- 7 FIG. 7 FIG. Having described the overall functionality of the system for displaying taxi guidance information, a description of a method for displaying taxi guidance information will now be described. The method, which is depicted in flowchart form in, represents various embodiments of a method for selectively automatically increasing the size of a seatbelt sign activation graphic. For illustrative purposes, the following description of methodmay refer to elements mentioned above in connection with. In practice, portions of methodmay be performed by different components of the described system. It should be appreciated that methodmay include any number of additional or alternative tasks, the tasks shown inneed not be performed in the illustrated order, and methodmay be incorporated into a more comprehensive procedure or method having additional functionality not described in detail herein. Moreover, one or more of the tasks shown incould be omitted from an embodiment of the methodif the intended overall functionality remains intact.

700 110 702 110 102 704 706 110 106 708 The methodstarts and the processing systemreceives taxi guidance data representative of taxi guidance information for a specific airport (). The processing systemthen retrieves airport moving map (AMM) data for the specific airport from the AMM data source(), and chart data for the specific airport from the airport chart data source (). The processing systemthen commands the display deviceto render an image representative of a published airport chart for the specific airport overlaid onto an airport moving map for the specific airport and with a taxi path overlaid onto the airport chart for the specific airport ().

The system and method described herein integrate the airport moving map and airport chart systems so that a pilot can quickly determine if the taxi path that is rendered on the airport moving map can be used for taxi operations, based on the data and information that is reflected in the corresponding airport chart.

While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing detailed description of the invention, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment of the invention. It being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in any appended claims.